Farmers count losses as more fake fertiliser seized

Citizen TV conducted a spot check across various farms in Nandi and discovered that farmers have yet to begin planting despite the start of the short rains, fearing crop failure if they apply the suspect fertiliser. 

Monday morning, and farms in the Cheptil area of Nandi county were unusually quiet, with farmers retreating from their fields, each fearful of planting their crop. 

Despite the onset of the short rains, farmers here are concerned about losing their crops, claiming that the fertiliser they purchased from the national cereals and produce board depot in Selia, Nandi county, is contaminated.

John Kiprotich, a farmer from Kapkechui, shared his discovery, "Niliiona kwa TV Saturday nikaona ikionyeshwa ni mfuko same na ile iletwa Selia nikasema maajabu wacha nifungue niangalie sasa ikaua ingine manure iko ndani mawe iko ndani mechanganya na top soil kidogo kidogo sasa sijui."

Casmody Choberi, another farmer from Cheptil, added, "Mbolea iko na changarawe iko na chumvi ya ngombe mbolea iko na manure ile uchafu ya kondoo imefagiliwa imemwekwa kwa gunia ukicompare na ile tulioneshwa kwa store ya Selia na hii haizfanani tulionyeshwa mbolea safi lakini sasa wakatupatia changarawe na manure."

The farmers are urging for immediate testing of the suspect fertiliser to prevent post-harvest losses.

Esther Kuku, a farmer from Cheptil, appealed, "Urudshe saa hii alafu utupatie sisi mbole ambayo ni mzuri sasa kusema njaa nafukuza sasa tafukuzaje kama hii mbolea mbaya."

John Kiprotich echoed the sentiment, "Kuliko tuumize wakulima namna hii heri turudishe tupelewe mbolea safi ama arudishe pesa yetu tununue mahindi."

These complaints arise following the recent police seizure of hundreds of bags of fake fertiliser and uncertified seeds distributed across the country.